Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Today's the official start of summer, but I'm still celebrating spring-flowering trees. This is an Ohio Buckeye which, despite the name, thrives in Wyoming. Its trunk and branches are particularly sturdy, making it ideal for the strong winds.

What you see in the picture above is the first stage of the flower and leaf buds opening.

Here you see that the flower has emerged, and the leaves are beginning to take shape.

Although it doesn't have the showiest of flowers, the buckeye makes up for their somewhat bland color with quantity.

The next step is the formation of nut-like fruit clusters.

Although these are supposed to ripen in the fall, so far -- and I've had a buckeye in my yard for thirteen years -- I have not seen any last long enough to mature, but there's always a first time, isn't there?

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Although Wyoming winters are noted for being harsh -- and they are, with the combination of fluctuating temperatures, strong winds, and minimal precipitation making it difficult for trees to survive -- many crabapples, including this one, thrive.

This is a Centurion Crabapple. Although you can't tell it from this picture, the leaves are often almost as red as the blossoms. And, when other trees' leaves turn red or gold in the fall, these turn green.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Although there are times when I miss the flowering trees and shrubs I had in the East, with dogwoods, azaleas, and rhododendron topping the list, spring in Wyoming has its own beauty ... and its share of flowering trees.

This is a dalgo crabapple, which produces what the nursery called "persistent fruit." That means that the fruit lasts most of the winter, providing food for the birds. The birds enjoy that. I enjoy the spring flowers.

About Me

Welcome! I hope you'll join me for my Wednesday in Wyoming posts -- a chance to learn a little bit about the state I now call home -- and occasional posts about my books.
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